Hydration Multiplier

Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier is the stick pack that turned electrolyte powders into a mainstream habit, and its main Amazon listing has more than 100,000 ratings. Each 16 g stick, mixed into 16 oz of water, provides 560 mg sodium, 370 mg potassium and 11 g of added sugar from cane sugar and dextrose, plus vitamin C and four B vitamins, for 50 calories.

The formula borrows its logic from oral rehydration solutions, in which sodium and glucose together speed water absorption in the gut. It is not a medical ORS, though. The reduced-osmolarity ORS formula tested in a large pediatric trial works out to roughly 816 mg sodium, 370 mg potassium and 6.4 g glucose per 16 oz, so Liquid I.V. has less sodium and about 70% more sugar. That makes it reasonable for sweaty workouts, hot days, travel or recovering after a night out, but it is not a substitute for a medical ORS when illness causes dehydration.

Context matters for everyday drinkers. The FDA notes that Americans already average about 3,400 mg of sodium a day against a recommended limit of 2,300 mg, and one stick adds 24% of the sodium Daily Value and 22% of the added-sugar Daily Value. People who sweat heavily benefit most; people watching blood pressure or sugar intake should use it sparingly or choose the sugar-free line.

Buyers consistently praise how well it mixes and credit it with fighting fatigue, cramps and hangovers, but taste is polarizing: many find it too salty, and value and sugar content are recurring complaints. Liquid I.V., owned by Unilever since 2020, does not advertise third-party testing or a sport certification.